Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Thompson, Anthony August 5, 1824 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ben Franklin ben.franklin.ffru@gmail.com May 2024 Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume E, pages 396-400 Written: August 5, 1824 Recorded: Aug 1836 Testator: Anthony Thompson In the name of God, Amen, I Anthony Thompson of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and Testament, Hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills by my heretofore made and do pronounce this to be my last Will & Testament ---- I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently buried, and for what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give divise & direct in the following manner & form (to wit) I have given and advanced unto my son Anderson Thompson fifty Acres of Land by a reference to the deed will more fully appear the said fifty Acres of Land I charge him six Hundred Dollars to be settled & accou -nted for in the settlement of my estate, I have also advanced unto my said son Anderson one Horse creature some stock Household & Kitchen furniture, and I authorize & desire my executors or my wife to give to each child a like as near as can be done in value such stock Household and Kitchen furniture as has been given in the out fitt of each of my eldest Children provided it can be made out of me own without purchaseing[sic] ------ Item 2nd I give and bequeath unto my son William Thompson fifty Acres of Land whereon he now lives including all I own on the south side of the great road west of Isaac Holts Gum corner and then run parallel with Kecks line for compliment, which Land I Value at five Hundred Dollars to be accounted for at the final settlement of my estate --- Item 3d I give and bequeath unto my son Marmaduke Michael Thompson The Track of Land adjoining the Land of Barney Clap & others, on Beaver Creek containing Thirty Acres more or less at the price of Two Hundred Dollars to be accounted for, at the settlement of my estate Item 4th I Lend to the use of all the remaining part of my Land unto my loving wife during her natural life with all the improvements Thereon free and undisturbed by any person, and after her death I give and bequeath [page 2] I give and bequeath[sic] unto my son Anthony (after the death of my wife) all that Track of Land lo[a]ned her whereon I now live bounded by William Thompsons Track yet to be laid off & others with all the improvements thereon to him & his heirs forever at the rate and price of eight Hundred Dollars to be settled and accounted for in the settlement of my estate --- Item 5th I lend unto my beloved wife during her natural life (after selling a sufficiency to discharge all my debts) all my stock of Horses, cattle, Hoggs sheep &c, my wagon Black Smiths Tools, farming, & Tools of all kind which are on the plantation, all my Household & Kitchen furniture, and I further lend unto my beloved wife during her natural life, (under the following requisition) all my negro Slaves for her use & benefit during her natural life but should it so happen that my negroes should so incr -ease agreeable to the common course of nature of things, all the first negroes born after the date of this will so soon as they arrive to the age of five or six years of age to be given at its fair Valuation to be Valued by three freeholders in the neighbourhood and the said Valuation made out in writing which shall be evidence of the Value or in any other Just way so that the Value may be perpetuated which shall be the amot. said child shall account for at the final settlement of my estate the gift shall commence with my daughters first until They have negro property nearly to equal with the prices of my sons Land - after giving each daughter one negro then after that may happen, it is my will & desire that my son Marmaduke M. Thompson shall have the next young negro at its Valuation as above --- Item 6th give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly one negro girl of the Value of the one Hundred & fifty Dollars after the death of my wife or the Value Thereof in the final settlement of my estate over and above all the rest of my children on account of her misfortune of having one of her hands injured ---- [page 3] Item the 7th after the death of my wife it is my will and desire that all my negroes shall be divided amongst all my children by Valuation of three good and lawful men appointed by the County Court or by any three Justices out of court who shall be unconnected to either party, and in the first Those men Shall Value all the negroes and distribet[sic distribute] them am- -ongst the children as nearly equal as can be done by charging each son with the price of this Land as above stated & also the daughter with those negroes advanced to them should there be any, at the price and Valuation made at the time of the delivery of the said negro, (in the first place reserving one if their[sic] should be such a one of the Value of one Hundred & fifty Dollars for Polly as above mentioned) and charge each child with the amount he has recd. and so on, with the ballance of negroes on hand until the whole are distribeted round and those children who should happen to have the largest amount shall pay to the lesser untill the whole of my children shall have equal shear & shear a like towit Nancy Jane Anderson Letty William Dilley Marmaduke and Anthony and my daughter Polly to have one Hundred & fifty Dollars over & above all the rest and I further provide that after the death of my wife for all my stock Household & kitchen furniture of any property not herein provided to be sold and the money ariseing therefrom perhaps may be sufficient to bring & make up the unequal fractions, due in the division of the negroes, which division, when completed, to each of my said children, as above, or, to them, or their Heirs forever - And I further provide that should some of my, or their, Heirs, live in some distant country, and not present at the time of said division as above directed, then & in that case, the men appointed to make the said division, shall make out an account for each child for the land and negroes so divided by nameing at full len[g]th the name of each negro & Land [page 4] to the different Legatees and make a return of them same to court for safe keeping -- and should one of the Legatees be absent and not money enough raised by the sale of property as above mentioned for to make up a Fraction that might be due from his or her lott of negroes, then & in that case, it is my will that those negroes shall be hired out untill the money can be made, and the Legatee who are entitled to receive the same shall wait untill the money May be raised by the hireing the said negroes or untill the owner of the same may demand the same negroes and pay the money due in such case ---- I nominate my wife Polly Thompson My executrix to this my last will & Testament dureing her life, and after her death I request the county court to appoint Two good men capable to divide and settle my estate agreeable to the foregoing Will ---- In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 5th day of August 1824 ~~~ Signed sealed and } acknowledged in the presents of } his Michl. Holt Jurat Anthony (X) Thompson (seal) Joel C. Yancey mark Alfred A Holt Exx qualified [page 5] Codicil to the foregoing Will I have in the foregoing Will bequeathed unto my daughter Jane wife of John James, an Interest in the division or distribution of my negro slaves as by said Will directed I do hereby revoke said bequest and in Lieu thereof I bequeath to my sons Marmaduke M. Thompson and Anthony Thompson Jnr. and to the survivor or survivors of them, and to the executors or administrators of the survivors of them, the negro slaves allotted to her in the foregoing Will according to the distribution when made in Trust for my daughter Jane wife of John James during her natural life, but subject to be Taken out of her possession and hired out by the said Trustees Whenever they may think proper it being my intention that she shall have the use of the said slaves for her support and maintainance free and clear from any disposition or Control of her Husband, and no way liable to his debts and after the death of the said Jane to be equally divided amongst her Children, including all the increase of said negro slaves --- In the distribution of my Land to my sons, certain Tracts at certain prices and in exchange of Lands or Swap of Lands have Taken place between my Two sons William Marmaduke and for the purpose of carrying into full effect, the said exchange I have executed a Deed for Marmadukes Land to Williams use and William has received the money for the same, I have in the foregoing Will bequeathed unto my son William fifty Acres of Land at the price of five Hundred Dollars [page 6] I do hereby revoke the bequest of Land to my son William and in Lieu Thereof I give and bequeath the same Land unto my son Marmaduke M. Thompson to him and his Heirs forever, I do hereby revoke The bequest of Land on Beaver Creek to my son Marmaduke M. Thompson, have sold the same to son Williams use and benefitt --- In the foregoing Codicil I have revoked and charged the gift of Land, between my sons William & Mar- maduke but I do not intend to Change the Sums of Money Which I have charged them, in the settlement of my estate for Marmaduke has paid William the difference of price in his own funds, I do hereby provide & bequeath that my son William Thompson shall account in the settlement of my estate and be charged with the same, the sum of five Hundred Dollars for benefits recd. in Land and I do hereby provide & bequeath that my son Marmaduke M. Thompson shall account in the settlement of my estate and be Charged with the same the sum of Two Hundred Dollars for benefits recd. in Land &c --- It is my will & desire in the settlement of my estate that each of my children that have recd. stock of any kind House hold or Kitchen furniture &c &c, not to be noticed in a final sett- -lement of my estate, that each child to be charged With the price of his Land or negro slave, and not for any small article It is my will and desire that my daughter Nancy be charged at the final settlement of my estate with the sum of fifty Dollars by advancement to her for the moving of her [page 7] and her family from the State of Tennessee and that sum shall be charge to her with the price of negro or negroes at the final settlement of my estate, and I do hereby re- voke any thing in the foregoing will to the contrary notwithstanding --- I do hereby give and bequeath unto Archibald D. Murphey the sum of fifty Dollars for the purpose of reimbursing to the Said Archibald D. Murphey that Sum which he advanced to my daughter Nancy without my Consent to him or his Heirs forever --- In Witness of the foregoing codicil I do Hereby Sign seal and Acknowledge this 7th day of June 1826 his Signed sealed and acknow- } Anthony (+) Thompson (seal) ledged in the presence of } mark Michl. Holt Alfred A. Holt [Will Book Volume E, page 396] In the name of God, Amen, I Anthony Thompson of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and Memory do make this my last Will and Testament Hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills by my heretofore made and do pronounce this to be my Last Will & Testament ---- I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently buried and for what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give devise and direct in the following manner & form (to wit) I have given and advanced unto my son Anderson Thompson fifty Acres of Land by a refference to the [Will Book Volume E, page 397] deed Will more fully appear the said fifty Acres of Land I charge him six Hundred Dollars to be settled & Accounted for in the settlement of my Estate I have also advanced unto my said son Anderson one Horse Creature some stock House hold & Kitchen furniture and I authorize & desire my Executors or my wife to give to each Child a like as near as can be done in Value [such] Stock House Hold and Kitchen furniture as has been given in the out fitt of each of my eldest Children provided it can be made out of me own without purchaseing[sic] ------ Item 2d I give and bequeath unto my son William Thompson fifty Acres of Land whereon he now lives including all I own on the south side of the great road West of Isaac Holts Gum Corner and then run paral[l]el with Kecks line for compliment Which Land I Value at Five Hundred Dollars to be accounted for at the final settlement of my estate Item 3d I give and bequeath unto my son Marmaduke Michael Thompson The Track of Land adjoining the Land of Barney Clap & others on Beaver Creek Containing thirty Acres more or less at the price of Two Hundred Dollars to be accounted for at the Settlement of my Estate ----- Item 4th I ["give" x-out] lend to the use of all the remaining part of [my] Land unto my loving Wife during her natural life With all the improve =ments thereon [free] and undisturbed by any person and after her death I give and bequeath unto my son Anthony (after the death of my wife) all that Track of Land loaned her whereon I now live bounded by William Thompsons Track yet to be laid off & others with all the improvements thereon to him & his heirs forever at the rate and price of eight Hundred Dollars to be Settled and accounted for in the Settlement of my Estate (Item 5th I lend unto my beloved Wife during her natural life (after Selling a Sufficiency to discharge all my debts) all my Stock of Horses, Cattle Hogs Sheep &c my Wagon Black Smith Tools farming & Tools of all Kinds which are on the plantation all my house hold & Kitchen firnuture and I further lend unto my beloved wife during her natural life (under the following requisitions) all my negro Slaves for her use & benefit during her natural life but should it so happen that my negroes Should so [erased] increase agreeable to the Common Course of nature of things, all the first negroes born after the date of this will so soon as they arrive to the age of five or six Years of Age to be given at its fair Valuation to be valued by three freeholders in the neighbourhood and the said Valuation made out in Writing Which Shall be evidence of the Value, or in any other Just way so that the Value may be perpetuated Which Shall be the amount said Child Shall Account for at the final Settlement of my estate the gift shall Commence with my daughters first until they have negro property nearly to equal with the prices of my sons Land after giving each daughter one negro then after that may happen, it is my will & desire that my Son [Will Book Volume E, page 398] Marmaduke M Thompson Shall have the next young negro at its Valuation as above Item 6th give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly One Negro Girl of the Value of the One Hundred ["Dollars" x-out] and fifty Dollars after the death of my Wife or the Value thereof in the final Settlement of my estate over and above all the rest of my Children on account of her misfortune of having one of her hands injured -- Item 7th after the death of my wife it is my Will and desire that all my negroes Shall be ["Equally" x-out] divided amongst all my Children by Valuation of three good and lawfull men appointed by the County Court or by any three Justices out of Court Who Shall be unconnected to either party and in the first those men Shall value all the negroes and distribet[sic distribute] them amongst the Children as nearly equeal[sic] as can be done by charging each son with the price of this Land as above Stated & also the daughter with those negroes advanced to them should there be any at the price and Valuation made at the time of the delivery of the said negro (in the first place reserving one if their[sic] should be such a one of the Value of One Hundred & fifty Dollars for Polly as above mentioned) and charge each child with the amount he has received and so on, with the balance of negroes on hand until the whole are distribeted round and those children who should happen to have the larges[t] amount Shall pay to the lesser untill the whole of my Children Shall have equeal share & share a like towit Nancy Jane Anderson Letty William Dilley Marmaduke and Anthony and my daughter Polly to have One Hundred ["Dollars" blot-out] fifty Dollars over and above all the rest and I further provid[e] that after the death of my wife for all my Stock Household and Kitchen firniture of any property not herein provided to be sold and the money ariseing therefrom perhaps may be Sufficient to bring & make up the unequal fractions due in the division of the negroes which division when completed, to each of my Said Children as above, or to them, or there[sic] Heirs forever - And I further provide that should some of my or their, Heirs, live in Some distant Country and not present at the time of Said division as above directed then & in that Case, the men appointed to make the said division Shall make out an Account for each Child for the land and negroes so divided by nameing at ["full" x-out] full len[g]th the name of each negro & Land to the different Legatees and make a return of them same to Court for Safe Keeping -- And Should One of the Legatees be about[orig: absent] and not Money enough raised by the sale of property as above mentioned for to make up a Fraction that might be due from his or her lot of negroes, then & in that case it is my will that those [Will Book Volume E, page 399] Negroes Shall be hired out untill the money can be made and the Legatees who are entitled to receive the Same Shall wait untill the Money May be raised by the hireing the said Negroes or untill the Owner of the same may demand the Same negroes and pay the money due in such Case ---- I nominate my Wife Polly Thompson My Executrix to this my last will & Testament ---- during her life, and after her death I request the County Court to appoint Two good men capable to divide and Settle my Estate agreeable to the foregoing Will In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of August 1824 ~~~ Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presents of his Anthony (X) Thompson (seal) Michl. Holt mark ["Charles C Yancey" x-out] Alfred A Holt Joel C. Yancey Codicil to the foregoing Will I have in the foregoing Will bequeathed unto my daughter Jane wife of John James an Interest in the division or distribution of my negro Slaves as by said Will directed --- I do hereby revoke said bequest and in Lieu thereof I bequeath to my sons Marmaduke M Thompson and Anthony Thompson Jr and to the Survivor or survivors of them and to the Executors or Administrators of the survivors of them the negro slaves alloted to her in the foregoing Will according to the distribution When made in Trust for my daughter Jane wife of John James during her natural life but Subject to be Taken out of her possession and hired out by the said Trustees Whenever they may think proper it being my intention that she shall have the use of the Said Slaves for her Support and maintainance free and clear from any dispostion or Control of her Husband and no way liable to his debts and after the death of the said Jane to be equally divided amongst her Children including all the increase of said negro Slaves --- In the distribution of my Land to my sons, certain Tracts at certain prices and in exchange of Lands or Swap of Lands have Taken place between my Two sons William Marmadu =ke and for the purpose of carrying into full effect the said exchange I have executed a deed for Marmadukes Land to Williams use and William has received the money for the same I have in the foregoing Will bequeathed unto my son William fifty Acres of Land at the price of five Hundred Dollars --- I do ["revoke" x-out] hereby revoke the bequest of Land to my son William and in Lieu thereof I give and bequeath the Same Land unto my son Marmaduke M Thompson to him and his Heirs forever -- I do hereby revoke the bequest of Land on [x-out] Beaver Creek to my son Marmaduke M Thompson have sold the same to son Williams use and benefitt --- In the foregoing Codicil I have revoked and charged the gift of Land between my sons William & Marmaduke but I do not intend to Change the Sums of Money Which I have charged them, in the Settlement of my estate for Marmaduke has paid William the difference of price in his own funds, I do hereby provide & bequeath [Will Book Volume E, page 400] that my son William Thompson Shall account in the Settlement of my Estate and be charged with the same the sum of five Hundred Dollars for benefits received in Land and I do hereby provide & bequeath that my son Marmaduke M Thompson Shall account in the Settlement of my Estate and be Charged with the same the sum of Two Hundred Dollars for benefits recd. in Land &c - It is my Will and desire in the settlement of my Estate that each of my children that have recd. stock of any Kind Household or Kitchen firniture &c & not to be noticed in a final settlement of my estate that each Child to be charged With the Price of his Land or negro Slaves and not for any Small article -- It is my Will and desire that my daughter Nancy be charged at the final Settlement of my Estate with the sum of fifty Dollars by advancement to her for the moving of her and her family from the State of Tennessee and that sum Shall be charge to her with the price of negro or negroes at the final Settlement of my estate and I do hereby revoke any thing in the foregoing Will to the contrary notwithstanding --- I do hereby give and bequeath unto Archabald D Murphy the sum of fifty Dollars for the purpose of ["Remembering" x-out] Reimbursing to the Said Archibald D Murphy that Sum which he advanced to my daughter Nancy Without my Consent to him or his Heirs forever In Witness of the foregoing codicil I do Hereby Sign seal and Acknowledge this 7th day of June 1826 Signed sealed and acknowledge } In the presence of } his Michl. Holt Anthony (+) Thompson (seal) Alfred A Holt mark Orange County County November Term 1836 The Execution of the foregoing Last Will and Testament of Anthony Thompson decd. was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of the Michl. Holt one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto and ["Ordered to be recorded" x-out] the Codicil thereunto annexed was duly proved by the Oath of Michl. Holt are ordered to be recorded At the Same time Poppy Thompson the Executrix therein named appeared in Open Court and qualified Accordingly Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume E, pages 396-400 Recorded Aug 1836 Estate Papers comprise 29 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Thompson, Anthony (1834)". Testator died in 1836 Nancy Thompson married Hanse Finley Jane Thompson married John James The "Cockleruse" surname may be Kachelriess or Cockleress, etc. Note 1: This is Alfred or Alford mentioned previously. [Estate Papers - Petition to Allot Slaves 22 May 1837] Orange County) Court of Pleas & Quarter Session May Term 1837 To the Worshipful the Justices of the Court aforesaid the Petition of Mary Thompson widow & Executrix of the last will of Anthony Thompson decd. Nancy Finley widow, John James, & Jane his wife & Letitia Thompson --- Humbly sheweth to your worships, that Anthony Thompson late of Orange County depart this life in the year 1836 having first made & published his last will & testament with all due form, in which your Petitioner Mary is nominated sole Executrix - that at November term last of said Court said will was duly proved and the said Mary qualified as Executrix - that said will is dated the 5th day of August 1824 and in the fifth Item thereof, among other things made as follows Towit - after lending to his widow during her natural life, his negro slaves & other property the testator proceeds " but should it so happen that my negroes should so increase agreeable to the common course of nature of things, all the first negroes born after the date of this will, so soon as they arrive to the age of Five or six years, to be given at fair valuation, to be valued by three freeholders in the neighbourhood, and ["the" x-out] the said Valuation made out in writing which shall be evidence of the value, or in any other just way so that the value may be perpetuated which shall be the amount said Child shall account for at the final settlement of my estate - the Gift shall commence with my daughters first, until They have negro property nearly to equal with the price of my sons land, after giving each daughter one negro, then after that may happen, it is my will & desire that my son M. M. Thompson shall have the next young negro at valuation" all which will fully appear by reference to said will on record You Petitioners shews[sic] that since the date of said will the following negroes have been born of a woman Ailsey the testators property Towit Henry, George & Alfred the youngest of which is now five year of age they further shew that the aforesaid Mary the Executrix has assented to the legacy to testators daughters as aforesaid - and your Petitioner Nancy widow of Hanse Finley Jane now wife of John James & Letitia Thompson are the only livens[living] daughters of said testator at making his will he had two others Polly who died without children and Delilah Rich who died before [page 2] testator having two infant children You Petitioners therefor Pray your worships to appoint three freeholders who are connected with the parties, to view said three negro children and to divide & allot them among the three daughters as aforesaid at Fair valuation according as Justice shall require and to give them such other relive as they are entitled to in the premises -- And as in duty bound they will eve pray &c Will A Graham Sol -- May 22nd 1837 [administrivia omitted] [page 3] State of NCarolina } this Day met agreeable to Orange County } order as commishinors Appointed by the court of the purpise pf Valuing a Lot of Negroes belonging to the Estate of Anthony Thompson Decd and proseded as follows ---- One Boy to Nancey Findley Widow Named Henry Age 12 years Valued @ -- -- -- -- $475 One Boy to Jane James Wife of John James name[d] George age Six or Seven Years Valued $350 One Boy to Letty Thompson Named Alford age five years Value @ $300 __________ 1125 Given under hours[sic] hands and Seal July 20 A.D. 1837 Henry Anthony (seal) Michael Shoffner (seal) Henry Folgleman (seal) [Estate Papers - Division of Slaves 1 Oct 1838] North Carolina } By Virtue of a Commission to us directed from the Orange County } County Court of Orange (provided by the last Will and testament of Anthony Thompson Senr deceased --) We, Michael Shoffner, Henry Fogleman & William Patterson, Commissioners appointed as aforesaid, proceeded on the 1st day of October AD 1838 to value & distribute the slaves of the said testator among his legatees as follows (Viz) Negro Slave Lewis valued at $300 and give to the children of William Thompson decd $300 Land devised to said William Thompson 500 ________ $ 800 _____ ======== Negro Slave Rachel valued at $175 and given to Anthony Thompson Jr ----------------- $175 Land devised to sd. Anthony Thomas Jr 800 ________ $ 975 _____ ======== Negro Slave Lewis (a child) valued at $175 and given to Anderson Thompson --------------------- $175 Land devised to sd. Anderson Thompson -------- 600 ________ $ 775 _____ ======== Negro Slave Austin valued at $850 and given to Marmaduke M. Thompson ----------------- 850 Land devised to sd. M. M. Thompson ----------- 200 ________ $ 1050 _____ ======== Negro Slave Selah valued at $650 and given to Nancy Finley -------------------------- $650 Negro (Henry) heretofore received ----------- 475 ________ $ 1125 _____ ======== Negro Slave Alice & Child) valued at $700 and given to Jane James --------------------- $700 Negro (George) heretofore received -------- 350 ________ $ 1050 _____ ======== Negro Slave Jim valued at $750 and given to Letty Thompson --------------------- $750 Negro ______ heretofore received ---------- 300 [see Note 1] ________ $ 1050 _____ ======== Negro Slave Peter valued at $900 and given to Delia Rich's Children ------------- $ 900 ======== All of which is respectfully submitted Michael Shoffner (sea) H. Fogleman (seal) Wm Patterson (seal) [Estate Papers - Petition May 1847] North Carolina } May Term 1847 Orange County } Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions To the worshipful the Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions for said County The petition of Anderson James, Abner James Salomon Tickle & Betsey his wife, Salo mon Cockleruse & Polly his wife Anderson Sharp & Barbara his wife Charles Foushee & Priscilla his wife Rachel James a minor under the age of twenty one years who pi titions by her guardian & next friend James Holt Duke James, Joseph Holt & John Inland Humbly complaining shew unto your worships your petitioners aforesaid that Antho ny Thompson departed this life many years ago in the county of Orange after having ex ecuted a last will and testament in writing properly to pass both real & personal estate, - that by said will he bequeath to his daughter Jenny James _______ negro slaves during the term of her natural life with remain der to his children - That the said Jenny James has lately died leaving your petitioners Ander son Abner Betsey Poly Barbara Priscilla, Pa chel & Duke, her children who are entitled to said slave in remainder - That the slaves given as aforesaid to the said Jenny & their increase now amount to five in number towit Alsey George Peter Stephen and Mary. Your petitioner Joseph Holt sheweth unto your worships that he both for a valuable consideration purchased all the interests of the aforesaid Anderson James Abner James [page 2] Solomon Tickle and Betsey his wife Salomon Cockleruse & Polly his wife Anderson Sharp & Barbara his wife Charles Foushee & Priscilla his wife in said slaves and taken conveyance as for he same which he is ready to pro- duce and exhibited to this court when called upon to do so -- And your petitioner John Ireland shew eth unto your worships that he has in like manner and for a valuable consideration purchased all the interests of the siad Duke James in said slaves and taken a bill of sale for the same which he is ready to pro duce to this court when Called for. Your Petitioners shew unto your worships that your petitioners Rachel James Joseph Holt & John Ireland are tenants in common of the aforesaid slaves and that the interests of your petitioners Rachel James and John Ireland therein are one eight part each and the interest of the said Joseph Holt is six eighths. -- They shew unto your worships that as tenants in common of said slaves they are entitle to partition and to have the last[?] of each assigned to him or her in severalty and they pray your worships for a decree of partition and that therefore holding unconnected any of said parties may be appoint to view said ne groes and value them and divide them a mong your petitioners according to their value true interests in the same and to assign to each of your petitioners their respective shares in severalty & report to the next term of [page 3] this court according to the provisions of an act of Assembly in such cases made and provided And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c Giles Mebane and Ralph Gorrell attos for Petitioners [Estate Papers - Bill of Sale 4 Dec 1846] [Modern spellings] State of N. Carolina Orange County Know all men bye these presents that I Duke James of the County of Orange and State of N. Carolina in consideration of the sum of five[?] Hundred & fifty Dollars for him in Hand paid by John Ireland of the County of Orange and State aforesaid the receipt hereof is Hereby fully acknowledged have granted bargain & Sold and by these present do grant bargain and sell and Convey unto the said John Ireland all of my Interest in a certain Lot or parcel of Negroes Slaves named as follows Alsy & George & Peter & Steven & Mary to have and to hold unto the Said John Ireland his heirs & assigns Executors & administrators forever free and discharged of any & all Claims or encumbrances whatsoever and for the better security of the Title I hereby convey It for myself my heirs and assigns Executors & [page 2] Administrators and demands[?] &c for ever defend the same from the Lawful Claims of any and all persons where unto in Testamony[?] whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this the 4 day of December AD 1846 Signed sealed in the presence of us his Duke (X) James (seal) mark his Abner (X) James mark Samuel Ireland